Cast

Synopsis

When words fail, a home-cooked meal transcends differences in this touching story of intergenerational connectedness, forgiveness and the sweetest spice of life: love. As a Korean family struggles to relate across emotional and cultural divides, it’s the ingredients they share in common that lead to understanding. Aubergine is a mouthwatering meditation on the beauty of life where hope is no mere ingredient, it’s the main course.

Bios

Julia Cho (Playwright): Julia’s plays include Durango, The Winchester House, BFE, The Architecture of Loss and 99 Histories. Her work has been produced at The Vineyard Theatre, The Public Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, South Coast Repertory, New York Theatre Workshop, East West Players, The Theatre @ Boston Court, Theatre Mu and Silk Road Theatre Project, among others. Honors include the 2005 Barrie Stavis Award, the 2005 Claire Tow Award for Emerging Artists and the 2004 L. Arnold Weissberger Award. She was also a two-time finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award. An alumna of The Julliard School and NYU’s Graduate Dramatic Writing Program, Julia also served as a resident playwright at New Dramatists.

Todd Salovey (Director & San Diego REP Associate Artistic Director): Todd is in his 29th season at The REP. He is founding Artistic Director of The REP’s Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival and last year was honored for its 25th anniversary. Recent REP directing credits include Outside Mullingar and the world premiere of The Dybbuk for Hannah and Sam’s Wedding, which he also wrote, and Herbert Siguenza's Steal Heaven. Other REP work with Siguenza includes the premieres In the Time of the Butterflies and A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, which has also played at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Denver Center, Arizona Theatre Co, San Jose Stage, Los Angeles Theatre Center and Center Arts REP. Acclaimed REP shows include A Hammer, A Belland A Song to Sing, and The Blessing of a BrokenHeart, which he authored, The Dybbuk, King Lear, Uncle Vanya, The Illusion, the world premiere of Yehuda Hyman’s The Mad Dancers and Hamlet starring Jefferson Mays. Salovey is on faculty in Theatre and Dance, and the Rady School of University of California, San Diego, where he received a 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award.

Dana Lee (Ray’s Father): Dana is a veteran actor of stage, motion pictures and television for almost 50 years. You may remember him as D. K. (Ken Jeong’s character’s dad) on the TV series “Dr. Ken.” In theatre, he has performed on such prestigious venues as The Public Theatre, The Joyce, Singapore Repertory, The Mark Taper Forum and The Doolittle, in plays by Shakespeare to Albee and notable Asian-American playwrights as Frank Chin, Wakako Yamauchi and Phillip Gotanda. Dana was also a major force in the development of East West Players, the nation’s premiere Asian-American theatre group. Dana’s movie credits include “Rambo: First Blood Part II,” “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Pineapple Express” and “The Honeymooners.” Dana also has over 50 TV credits, going all the way back to “Kung Fu.” Other notable credits include recurring roles on “Hawaii Five-0” (both versions), “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Dynasty” and the aforementioned “Kung Fu.” Dana is looking forward to his debut performance at San Diego REP and feels honored to be working in a Julia Cho play.

Audrey Park (Cornelia): Audrey is an actor and community organizer from Minneapolis, MN. She is happy to be joining San Diego REP for the first time. Credits include: Penumbra Theatre (For Colored Girls), Ten Thousand Things Theatre (Pericles; Electra), Theatre Mu (You For Me For You; Purple Cloud; Twelfth Night; Middle Brother). She has also worked with Pillsbury House Theatre, Frank Theatre and History Theatre. As a teaching artist, Audrey facilitates workshops with Penumbra Theatre and Theatre Mu. Audrey sees art as a strong tool for social justice, and is committed to working with people to effect social change on a local level.

Yong Kim (Uncle): Yong is a Korean actor raised in 7 countries/5 continents, who regards Seoul, London and Los Angeles as home. He appears in Sundance films “Spa Night” and “Dog Bowl.” As well as such TV shows as “The Last Ship,” “The League” and “Murder in the First.” Yong is excited to be making his debut at San Diego REP!